House of Representatives withdraws its own state police proposal as President Tinubu’s constitutional amendment bill advances for detailed legislative review.
The House of Representatives has officially suspended its own constitutional amendment proposal on the establishment of state police, choosing instead to concentrate on a fresh Executive-sponsored bill submitted by President Bola Tinubu.
The move marks a significant shift in the National Assembly’s approach to one of Nigeria’s most debated constitutional reforms and signals a coordinated effort between the Executive and the legislature to push forward a unified framework for state policing.
The decision was announced during Tuesday’s plenary after lawmakers received and considered the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, recently transmitted by President Tinubu.
The proposed legislation seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide the legal foundation for the establishment and operation of state police services across the country.
Following its introduction, the bill successfully passed its first and second readings in the House of Representatives without delay.
In line with legislative procedure, it was referred to the House Committee on Constitutional Review, which will carry out a detailed examination of its provisions before presenting its findings and recommendations to the full chamber.
With the Executive-backed proposal now formally before lawmakers, the House resolved to withdraw its earlier constitutional amendment bill on the same subject.
The decision effectively places the previous legislative initiative on hold, allowing members to focus on a single proposal that already incorporates work previously undertaken by the National Assembly.
The development is expected to streamline discussions on the long-standing issue of state policing and eliminate the possibility of competing legislative proposals moving simultaneously through the constitutional amendment process.
President Tinubu, in a letter addressed to Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, explained that the proposed constitutional amendment is designed to establish a clear legal pathway for the creation of state police while preserving the responsibilities of the existing federal policing structure.
According to the President, the bill is part of his administration’s broader strategy to reform Nigeria’s security architecture in response to evolving security challenges confronting the country.
He noted that the proposed legislation introduces constitutional safeguards intended to ensure accountability, coordination and operational efficiency under a dual policing system involving both federal and state law enforcement agencies.
Tinubu stated that the bill was not drafted in isolation but builds upon the legislative efforts previously undertaken by the House of Representatives on the issue.
He explained that the Executive refined the proposal by adding provisions aimed at addressing concerns that have historically surrounded the establishment of state police.
The President expressed confidence that the National Assembly would give the bill speedy consideration, describing the proposed reforms as critical to strengthening national security and improving the protection of lives and property across Nigeria.
He also urged lawmakers to prioritise deliberations on the legislation, stressing that the changing nature of security threats requires a policing structure capable of responding more effectively at both the national and state levels.
If eventually approved by the National Assembly and assented to, the constitutional amendment would provide the legal basis for individual states to establish their own police services under a framework expected to define operational responsibilities, oversight mechanisms and the relationship between federal and state security agencies.
The House Committee on Constitutional Review is now expected to scrutinise every section of the bill, examine its constitutional implications and consider submissions from stakeholders before recommending whether the proposal should proceed to the next stage of the amendment process.
The issue of state police has remained one of the most contentious constitutional debates in Nigeria for many years.
Supporters argue that decentralising policing would improve intelligence gathering, enhance community policing and enable quicker responses to security incidents.
They believe governors and local authorities are better positioned to understand the peculiar security challenges within their jurisdictions.
On the other hand, critics have consistently warned that state police could be misused for political purposes if adequate constitutional safeguards are not established.
Concerns have also been raised about funding, recruitment standards, command structures and mechanisms for preventing abuse of power by state-controlled security agencies.
By incorporating additional safeguards into the proposed amendment, the Tinubu administration appears to be addressing many of these longstanding concerns while seeking to build consensus around a constitutional framework that balances state autonomy with federal oversight.
The coming weeks are expected to be crucial as the constitutional review committee begins detailed consideration of the bill.
Stakeholder consultations, expert opinions and legislative debates will likely shape the final version before it returns to the House for further deliberation and voting.
If successful, the legislation could represent one of the most significant constitutional and security reforms in Nigeria’s democratic history, potentially redefining the country’s policing structure and strengthening efforts to combat insecurity at all levels of government.
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